Volume 18 Issue 4, April 2018

Activation of TGFβ signalling in invasive margins of metastatic tumours can contribute to T cell exclusion and reduced immune checkpoint therapy response. Inhibition of TGFβ in non-responders can potentially help to improve outcomes in these patients.

Xieet al. show that senescence-associated DNA methylation changes evolve independently of stochastic tumour-associated methylation changes and that a subset of commonly methylated genes with the highest gains are associated with early tumorigenesis and ageing.

Wang, C., Wang, J. et al. show that local injection of a hydrogel scaffold degraded by reactive oxygen species in the tumour microenvironment releases chemotherapy and an immune checkpoint inhibitor with kinetics that increase antitumour responses.

Liet al. report the development of 'DNA nanorobots' carrying a thrombin protease payload that induce coagulation and necrosis at the tumour site, illustrating their therapeutic potential as drug delivery systems.

A recent study published inNature Cell Biologyhas shown that tumour spheres that maintain an inverted epithelial architecture originate from primary colorectal cancers and can collectively invade the peritoneum, initiating metastasis.

A paper inNature Medicinedescribes a novel, orally available splicing modulator that preferentially kills cancer cells with mutations in splicing factors in culture and in mouse models.

In this Review, Hunteret al. discuss how genetic heterogeneity impacts metastatic disease and outline the implications of our current knowledge in this area for future research efforts and therapeutic interventions.

This Review discusses the mutational landscape and evolution of follicular lymphoma. Deciphering the earliest initiating lesions and the molecular alterations leading to disease progression might help identify the most relevant targets for therapy of these tumours.

To efficiently prevent cancers associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, especially cervical cancer, effective vaccines and high vaccination coverage are required. This Review provides insight into virological, immunological and strategical progress in HPV vaccines as well as implementation and potential advances.

Improved therapies have allowed many patients with cancer to achieve complete remission, but they retain minimal residual disease (MRD), which causes relapse. This Opinion article argues that iterative detection, profiling and targeting of MRD could improve outcomes, including cure rates.